NWT premier pushes northern uniqueness for policies, trade

NWT Premier RJ Simpson says he will continue to push for the North to be recognized as a unique region as a new federal government takes power in Ottawa.

NWT-born Prime Minister Mark Carney is due to announce his cabinet on Tuesday. Simpson, meanwhile, just concluded a northern premiers’ forum with Nunavut’s PJ Akeeagok and Yukon’s Ranj Pillai.

“It’s been great to hear federal leaders using the same language that the northern premiers have been using for years, specifically around nation-building projects and the recognition of the potential that Canada has, which includes the North,” Simpson told Cabin Radio.

“We have a lot of critical minerals. We have a lot in the territory that can benefit Canada and the world, and there finally seems to be some federal recognition of that.”

The Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic and Green parties all made promises related to Arctic security and infrastructure in the lead-up to last month’s election.

Simpson said he wants the new federal government to recognize the North as “something different than the rest of Canada,” pointing out that the territories have different governance structures than the provinces.

“When Ottawa is creating programs or rolling out policies or funding programs, they need to consider that one size doesn’t fit all in Canada,” he said.

“Unless there is a change in that mentality, then they’re going to continue to roll out programs that don’t work for the North and don’t allow us to fully participate in those programs and advance our interests.”

Trade barriers

At the northern premiers’ forum, one idea put forward was the creation of a territorial trade zone.

Simpson said while there’s a need to reduce internal trade barriers across Canada, the North has unique needs.

He said, for example, that what might be considered a trade barrier in the provinces could be necessary for the development of economies in the North.

“We don’t want southern companies to come up here and basically take the resources and leave nothing,” he said.

“We need the ability to give northern companies an advantage as we grow and develop our economies.”

Simpson added he would like more support for trade between the territories. He highlighted expertise in northern construction that could benefit the region.

“It would make sense if it was easier for businesses to set up shop in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut,” he said, “and be able to build on the natural advantages we have here in the North, just because we understand the North.”

At the forum, premiers discussed health, education, housing, Arctic security and sovereignty, growing the economy and infrastructure.

They made a statement in support of 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in the North and against the “alarming increase in transphobic policies based on hate and ignorance” being passed worldwide.

“We see things happening across the world and closer to home that are making people feel marginalized,” Simpson said.

“It goes a long way when leaders speak out about these issues.”

Some 2SLGBTQQIA+ advocates in the NWT have spoken out against Alberta’s Bill 26, which prohibits puberty blockers and hormone therapy for youth under the age of 16, and how it could affect people in the territory who rely on those services. The bill has received royal assent but has not yet been proclaimed.

The NWT government has promised it will ensure territorial residents continue to have access to gender-affirming care even if some services are no longer available in Alberta.

Simpson said that could include accessing services in other jurisdictions such as British Columbia.